One of the most basic star patterns and also one of the oldest is the Le Moyne Star. Formed by eight equilateral diamonds, it is a building block for many complex star designs: every Lone Star or Star of Bethlehem, for instance, begins with a Le Moyne Star at its center. The pattern gets its name from two French Canadian brothers, Jean-Baptiste and Pierre Le Moyne, who explored the American coastline during the early eighteenth century and founded the cities of Mobile and New Orleans. The Le Moyne Star design is thought to have been first used in quilts made in New Orleans or in one of the French colonies along the Mississippi River. It remains one of the most versatile of the star patterns. In this variation, the stars are pieced from six rather than eight diamonds.

Stacy C. Hollander, "Pennsylvania Hex Quilt," exhibition label for SUPER STARS: Quilts from the American Folk Art Museum. Stacy C. Hollander, curator. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2010.